MUSIC COURSE BRING YOUTH TOGETHER

By Vicky BAUNKE

A MUSIC training facilitated by National Youth Office of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea has brought together youths of ELC Ukata District.

This music training was facilitated by two music volunteers and trainer Charlie Goiba and Samuel Elivong at Gatop Station in Wasu recently last month (16th May to 20th).

Music facilitator Charlie Goiba said more than 120 youths from circuits, parishes and congregations in ELC Ukata participated in the weeklong training on reading music theory in church hym books of Amamas Wantaim na Lotu Long God and Book of Worship.

Mr Goiba said this training was conducted following a request from ELC Ukata Youth Coordinator Bini Lekem, they went and conducted the training which was successful with inspiring feedbacks from participants.

He said male youths went through music theory while the female youths were trained by Gatop Girls School teacher Edna Waka on how to play different tambourine patterns.

He expressed that music is a very powerful weapon that has strong influence over a person’s emotions and was happy that this music training brought together youths from the warring villages of Sio.

He said the training would help the youths to see their purpose and calling in God’s mission through music and throughout the whole week, the mindset and approach of hatred, anger, attack and insults was changed.

Mr Goiba said the youths participated very well, socialized, discussed and told stories together.

He said they didn’t know that some youths attending the training were enemies and thanked God for making everything possible in giving the peace that was needed.

Stoll Circuit Pastor Terence Keke said they were experiencing continuous fighting among villages in the circuit over the past years.

Ps Keke said this training has brought together youths from these ethnic villages and has foster peace, open communication, love, sharing and a feeling of togetherness.

He said the ongoing fighting has resulted in a big decline of youths participation in church organized activities, fellowships and active youth participation in the circuit and thanked God for seeing the need in his service in making the training possible which made had made a big impact in the lives of the youths.

Ps Keke said numerous attempts by responsible authorities for peace and reconciliation between these ethic villages occured but still they attack each other wherever they meet.

He said his pastoral work in the circuit was very challenging when there is no active involvement of youths in the church and his prayers was answered with the commencement of the training.

Ps Keke said the music training has brought the youths from communities of Lambatina and Lailo together with other youths from Ukata so this is our hope to bring end to the conflict and see normalcy, peace and reconciliation.

Stoll Circuit Youth Coordinator Zebedy Daniel expressed similar sentiments and mentioned that his effort to make awareness to get youths for this training was very successful especially from conflicting villages in the circuit.

Mr Daniel expressed his gratitude to National Youth Office, music trainer Mr Goiba and Mr Elivong including the National Church for the training which may seem small but impacted the lives of our youths to see the goodness of God in playing music in the church.

He said youths pledge to return back to their respective villages and ready to surrender all their weapons as well as making peace with each other.